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"I think the November 2008 presidential election will have a bigger turnout and will be a good time to hold a referendum on zoning," Hamlett said.

Assistant City Manager Susan Rash said the concept of zoning has been visited by city officials and the community off and on over time. A land-use ordinance committee created years ago did not agree among itself on the idea, she said.

"There has been a lot of discussion, and there was enough confusion and enough people on the committee not interested," Rash said. "So when the plan is ready in May 2008, the community will have plenty of time to learn about it and debate it."

The idea to introduce zoning to the city dates back to the 1990s. In January 1997, voters supported a revision to the city charter that obligates the city to hold a referendum on any zoning law proposal and publish such an ordinance at least six months before the election.

City Councilor Tom Suter thinks there is strong support for zoning. Councilor Dwayne Grigar said the council also generally is in favor of zoning control by the city. However, Grigar said there has been mixed reaction among residents.

"In residential areas of the town, there are houses converted to businesses; but some people just don't want a lawn mower shop next to them," Grigar said. "A lot of older people in town like some type of zoning, but not anything full-blown like Sugar Land and Missouri City. If someone has a piece of land, he may not want the city to come out to tell him the tract can only be used for multifamily (residences) or something else he doesn't want."

Grigar said he personally endorses regulating land use to a reasonable degree, especially in older neighborhoods where homeowners associations had dissolved. In these subdivisions, such as Cambridge Village, where he lives, existing deed restrictions have no means of being enforced.